Weeding-machine



(No Model.)

J; B. MANSFIELD.

I WEEDING MACHINE.

No. 397,785. Pate ed Feb. 12, 1889.

WITNESSES VENTZR 06', @WM 7 M a UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BIBBER MANSFIELD, OF MILLBRIDGE, MAINE.

WEEDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATJEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,735, datedFebruary 12, 1889.

Application filed September 24, 1888. Serial No. 286,214. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES BIBBER MANS- FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Millbridge, in the county of \Vashington andState of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in\Veeding-Hachines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appeitains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of mynew and improved weeding tool or machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, showing the blade in full lines as it stands when the tool isbeing pushed forward and showing it in dotted lines as it stands whenthe tool is drawn back toward the operator; and Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudiiml vertical sectional view of the in'iplement.

The same letters of reference imlicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention consists in a new and improved machine or implement forcutting the weeds and grass, runners, &c., from among strawberry andother light plant-s growing in rows; and my invention will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the several parts by letters A indicates the metal frame ofmy new and improved tool or implement, which is formed at the center ofits upper or rear end with the metal socket B, in which is secured thelower end of the handle 0, this being along wooden handle of therequisite length. The lower parallel ends of the frame A are bent downand then slightly curved upward, as shown, and to these lower curvedextremities is bolted or riveted a curved metal plate, D, of thin lightmetal, the said curved plate being secured to the under side of the endsof the frame A. This metal plate I), and also the lower ends of theframe, is curved so that both its rear and front longitudinal edges riseabove the ground, so that the curved plate will pass readily over theground. This broad metal plate prevents the cutter-frame from sinkingtoo deeply into the ground, as will be hereinafter seen.

end for the reception of a thumb-nut, K. The 1 upper ends of thecutting-blade extend up outside of the frame A, and are formed with theperforations L L, through which the ends of the long pivot-rod pass, andthe blade is thus pivotally secured to the upper rear end of the frame.Upon the outer side of the upper rear part of the parallel arms formedby the frame A are formed the metal stops M M, the upper half, N, of therear ends of which lie parallel with the sides of the frame A, while thelower half, 0, of their rear ends is inclined forward, as shown. Now theupper ends of the cutting-blade are pivotally secured to the sides ofthe frame A, so that when the implement is pushed forward over theground by its handle C the cutter frame or blade will turn or swing backon its pivotbolt, so as to bring the front cutting-edge of the bladeinto its best operative position, when the upper ends of the blade willcome in contact with the upper half, N N, of the rear operative ends ofthe stops M M on the side of the frame A, and the blade will be thusheld at the correct inclination to out the weeds, grass, runners, &c.,as the machine is pushed forward, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings. \Vhen the operator draws the implement back by the handle,the cutting-blade will swing forward at its lower end until the upperends of its sides come in contact, and bears against the lower inclinedhalf, 0, of the rear ends of the stops M M on the sides of the frame A,and the cutter-blade will thus be held firmly in the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with its rear edge at the bestangle to cut the weeds, &c., as the machine is drawn back by theoperator. It will thus be seen that the device can be readily andrapidly used in cutting the weeds, grass, &e., from among strawberryHaving thus described my invention, what 1 and other light plantsgrowing in-rows, as it claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 0can be propelled both forward and backward. of the United States, is

From the foregoing description, taken in 1.111 a weeding machine oriinplmnent, the 5 connection with the accompanying drawings, combinationof the light metal frame having the construction, ('rl'ieration, andadvantages an operating-handle and formed with the of my invention willbe readily understooi'l. downwardly bent and curved lower ends, the 5 Itwill be seen that the implementis simple light curved metal plate,theside stops formed and strong in construction, and can be manuat theirrear ends, as described, the cutter- .l'actured at a eomparath ely smallcost, while blade beveled and sharpened on both its front it isexceedingly eiiicient and coiwenient in and rear edges, and thetransverse pivot-rod, operation. The cutter-blade, beveled and Qsubstantially set; forth. 4o sharpened on both its front and rear edges,2. In a weeding implement, the eombinm will cut in both directions-thatis, both tion of the metal frame having the upper rear I a when theimplement is pushed forward and socket and the lower bent and curvedends, drawn backward, which is exceedingly eonthe light curved metalplate, the side stops, venient in cutting weeds, runners, grass, &c., 2formed at their rear ends as described, the 45 from among rows of lightplants such as cutter-blade beveled on both its front and strawberries,&e.and by forming the stops rear longitudinal edges, the transversepivotand pivoting the cutter-fra1ne, as shown, the rod, and the woodenhandle, substantially as blade will be enabled to swing into either p0-and for the purpose set forth. sition to cut in either direction. Thecurved In testimony that I claim the :loregoing as 50 metal platesecured to the curved lower ends my own I have hereunto aflixed mysignature of the frame A will support the forward end in presence of twowitnesses. 2 of the frame and cause it to pass readily over JAMES Bllll'ililll. )lANbhllfllll).

the ground, and will prevent the cutter-blade \Yitnesses: from sinkinginto the ground to too great a EDWARD ll. (300K, depth. \VILLIAM Fos'rnnSMALL.

